Verlasce

The Verlasce (also known as the Verlascio) is the ancient Roman amphitheater of the city of Venafro (ancient Venafrum), located at the heart of the modern town.

Built in the 1st century, just outside the Roman city walls, it reflects the typical architecture of mid-sized imperial amphitheaters.The name derives from the late antique term “Perielasium” (from Greek, meaning “to go around”), which gradually evolved into “Verlascio” and “Verlasce.”

Elliptical plan: approximately 110 meters along the major axis and 85 meters along the minor.

Estimated capacity: around 15,000 spectators.

Remnants include original masonry in opus mixtum (a mix of stone and brickwork) and inscriptions dedicated to the Vibia family.

Abandoned between late antiquity and the Middle Ages (around the 4th century, likely after the 346 earthquake), the structure was later adapted for rural use: converted into stables and barns, and incorporated into 17th-century rural buildings.

This “peasant” use of the structure paradoxically helped preserve its elliptical shape.

Today, the amphitheater is an archaeological area with an elliptical layout, integrated into the town’s urban structure and visible as an open square.

It is one of the very few examples in Italy (alongside the “Parlascio” in Lucca) where the original Roman form has survived despite being built over.

Restoration efforts are ongoing, though concerns about neglect and abandonment have been raised by the local community.